Captain Blake's Home Archive

"She had the sending delayed until after she was in Goraia, I think, because she knows I wouldn't have wanted her to go. I admit I am not at all fond of the chit but if she had just come to me!" She palmed her cheek, sighing. "I was so overwrought that day, but I also wasn't myself either. I know she can't have known, but I would have helped her if she'd asked. Now she is off putting herself in danger, alone and without a clue how to live." She sighed and sat down, then watched her mother in law with Ambre, her eyes softening.

"I don't want her sheltered... Not the way my cousin was... I... hurt just thinking about her being Faisine's age and going into danger like that, because she will..."

"I worry for all of my cousins. Feruzia, Vales, Faisine... Faisine is the only one I've heard from... I don't even know of the other two. We're so few, the guardians... We've one who just came to this world unannounced, our Ambre. She is my legacy to the Usque, and all of our daughters will be." She touched Ambre's silken brow and sighed. "I hope that at least Faisine falls in love and has some daughters. Feruzia never will, she will never fall in love. She told me so."

"She already is," she said softly as she looked down at the babe. She stroked a cheek again and Ambre sighed as if in content. Camilla smiled, then moved to lie down tiredly, still feeling taxed to a point, "I love you," she murmured as she fell asleep rather quickly. Ambre stared up at her dad and gave a yawn of her own, a spit bubble forming in her toothless mouth.

********

She did not know yet that Jarkoopi, Kepesk Altiui was on his way to speak with her, so she was busy nursing Ambre, who wss finally as big as a newborn should be. Camilla knew the baby had done the impossible by surviving such an early birth, and attributed it to the girl being the fighter that Blake said she was.

For a time there, Cam kept her sadness to herself, spending more time with her children and less time on her interests. She had yet to hear of any news of the war, and was anxious about that as well. 

Ambre made a little noise as she finished her meal, her toothless mouth continuing to suckle the air and milk dribbling down her chin.

Since she was technically a few months old, her eyes were not the cloudy eyes of an infant, but clear and alert... Well... Trying to stay open, Cam noted with a chuckle, righting her gown so as to be proper. She whispered words of love to the wee babe, then placed her in the bassinet that was kept in her and Blake's room until they were comfortable moving her into the nursery.

Feeling more cheerful, she tiptoed about to freshen up her appearence, tucked Ambre in and kissed her downy forehead, then went to search for her husband.

"Hello, my darling." She was tired too, but nursing a baby tended to do that. She moved to sit in his lap, offering up a soft kiss. "Looks like you could use a break, or some help." She said pointedly. "Sunce I need a break from babies, perhaps I can offer at keast one of those options?"

Her hand touched his face and tenderly brushed her thumb over his bottom lip. Her lips curled upward into a loving smile.

"I could name a few things." Her voice was husky as she spoke to him. He probably knew where her mind was going since it had been a bit for them. She didn't quite press just yet, though, content with even getting to be alone with Blake.

She nuzzled her face against his neck, breathing in his familiar scent and sighing. He always smelled so good to her, like wind and sunshine. After several minutes of just taking in the affection they had for each other, she kissed along his throat to his lips, cupping his face in her hands and looking into his eye.

"I adore you, husband. You have made me whole again." She smiled and moved her hands, pretending fascination with the buttons of his shirt, her fingers toying for a moment, then slipping button after button out of their button holes, then flattening her palms against his chest.

"Good." She said and nuzzled her face against the skin of his chest, wrapping her arms about his waist beneath his shirt. "And I am glad for this distraction as I am sure you are. Our girl has proved she is a fighter. The boys are also very protective of her already. We're going tohave our hands full when they are older." And she didn't mean the ruling over Medan thing.

She straightened her form, then, and looped her fingers around the back of his neck. She gave a smile and sighed, no longer having anything to say now that she had gotten some adult conversation. Camilla leaned in and caught his ottom lip between her teeth, tugging gently.

Camilla sighed as he nibbled the flesh of her neck, eyes hooded, fingers roaming. "It has been some time," she replied as she leaned into the nibbling. "But we should be careful for now, I am not ready for another little one." She chuckled. She would probably change her mind in time, but for now, she wanted to enjoy her marriage with Blake. She let her fingers move lower, they shook with anticipation. Then she wrenched herself away, moving over to lock the door. When she returned to him, she sat in his lap again and kissed him hungrily. She led him to the fade.

Following in the wake of the first stars to grace the night sky, an unremarkable Isran messenger arrives at the Blake residence. He states that he has important information for Lady Camilla directly from Lady Naoki, and requests to see her at once. If questioned, he would tell any reasonably legitimate-seeming guard or doorman that Goraia has fallen, but offers nothing beyond this prior to gaining entry.